Earth’s vital signs: Millenium ecosystem assessment (2005)


Ethics of ecology: Ego- versus Ecocentric


Are humans apex predators?


4 major categories of ecosystem services






  • Provisioning services


  • Regulating services


  • Cultural services


  • Supporting services

Provisioning services: Raw materials





















Forest Service economists estimated the minimum value of water from National Forest System lands to be $3.7 billion per year

Regulating services: Natural ecosystem processes


Case study: Pollination


Cultural services: Non-material benefits (health & well-being)


Supporting services: Underlying natural processes